Submitted some amazing nominations for a small business selling produce and dairy and got rejected. I appealed them, but seems like for whatever reason they just don’t like the submissions I sent. Not sure why? Only thing I can think is maybe they think because it says farm in the title that it’s farmland? But regardless the nominations are fantastic and meet all the criteria for a way spot. Basically just here to better understand how a birdhouse can become a way spot but not a legitimate business with a parking lot and food and drinks for sale, with plenty of safe and well marked access for pedestrians and public… Pretty freaking cringy honestly, but I guess they just don’t like certain things even if they meet all the criteria. Just makes you wonder whenever you go to a way spot and it’s a 2” by 4” plaque on a rock in the middle of nowhere… like alright, really?
Without seeing the nomination in its glory, it’s hard for us to make an informed comment. If the location is indead a farm of some sort, the chances it won’t be accepted.
I have a Nature Reserve area near me that is called Grove Farm, but it’s a Nature reserve, but the nominations I submited were before ML (aka Emily) was around… so it may have been taken in good faith that it’s not a farm.
However, if your nomination is a farm, it may be rejectable… but if you can post the details here, we can give you are more fair and reasonable response.
Hi, welcome to the forum! I don’t think we can help in any way without seeing the actual nominations and just being told they are “fantastic” 
There are many subtleties, rules, rejection criteria and a learning curve to Wayfarer, and external eyes may be able to help point out where something is not clear or needs more focus or evidence.
I added photos
I added some photos to the post
One thing I notice is you make Pokémon Go references in the description. This is a very obvious reason for rejection.
Keep in mind that you are nominating Wayspots for any and all Niantic games now and for the future.
Thanks. I would avoid using “while spinning some stops and hitting the nearby power spot” considering that the wayspot could go into multiple Niantic Games.
Also, you mention that you can get a bite to eat. Can we presume there is somewhere to sit down inside the location? Does the place cater for parties and events? If not, it may be a tough sell.
Thank you for sharing, now we can try to help more efficiently!
Indeed with references to Pokémon GO game terms in the description this was unfortunately an automatic rejection, so what happened is very much expected. The description field is used to give information about the wayspot, not about how it would be great for Pokémon GO (and, not that it matters but power spots are pretty nonpermanent anyway). Just for information, Wayfarer is game agnostic and does not interact just with Pokémon GO, which means that objects have to be described in a neutral way.
Similarly, your supporting information is again all about Pokémon GO, which doesn’t help reviewers at all. Instead the supporting information field is better used to describe how your location meets criteria if this isn’t obvious outright, or to provide evidence to some of the claims you make.
That’s pretty cringy that they would reject it for that. But oh well. It is what it is. I guess I’ll know better next time. Too bad I already repealed it so there won’t be a chance for me to fix it, so this will never be a way spot now. What a waste of time.
It is not a restaurant, so there are no seats, but there is food and drinks for sale, and parking. I’m just super annoyed by this whole thing I guess, and frustrated that because of a couple of key words this will never be a way spot now. Kind of infuriating, but whatever, I need to move on or I’ll just get more upset.
You can resubmit the wayspot, but you will need to be careful about how you describe it. I personally can’t see how it will get approved, but if you are able to provide information that can show how it’s a great place to explore, exercise and / or socialise, it may get approved.
We are here to help. Folks are already giving additional feedback on the nomination. It is likely that using this feedback you can try the nomination again
It can take some time to get good at making nominations. You are ahead of the curve since you are here getting feedback. Don’t give up. Even if this one won’t work, others in the future will.
As for cringy, I disagree. The Description should just be about the nomination not the game. After all we are making a real world map that could be used by numerous people. Not just for Niantic games. But I do understand being frustrated.
Yep. Got it. Pretty angry about the whole thing honestly. But oh well, I’ll know better next time I guess. Thanks for the help.
Yeah. Thanks for the help.
Welcome!
I don’t want to pile on and increase your frustration. However, I think it would be worthwhile for you to read through the criteria pages:
https://wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/new/criteria/eligibility
All the advice above is pointing out things to avoid (which you need to know). But the page above helps you focus on what to do. Wayspots should meet at least one of the following criteria:
- a great place to socialize
- a great place to exercise
- a great place to explore
Right off the bat, I’m not sure how this place meets any of those. So that is what you need to tell us. Keep in mind that just telling us that many people go to this place doesn’t mean that it is a great place to socialize or explore. People going to a place is a key requirement for all businesses (or else they would go out of business). So there must be something over and above just people coming and going to buy products to make this a great wayspot.
To answer your question about a birdhouse - those usually fall under a great place to explore. Some people love to birdwatch (they call it birding). A birdhouse can be a great place for people to get a chance to explore that hobby. Exploration is often what makes a nature sign meet criteria, as well. If we have the chance to learn something about our area, then that can make a great wayspot. Though sometimes you will see the sign simply as a placeholder for the thing that is the wayspot because the sign provides a physical anchor for a thing that is very large or would be hard to find a “single” spot to send someone to. In cases like that, the sign doesn’t really meet the criteria, but the thing it represents does.